Are you looking for the right marketing automation tool to handle your content, emails, and social media? With so many platforms available, choosing one that fits your business needs can be tough. In this article, we'll cover the 5 best options, each with its own focus, pros, and limitations, so you can pick what works best. Towards the end, we'll also discuss 4 setup steps and the benefits of automatically running your campaigns online.
What is meant by marketing automation
Marketing automation refers to platforms that run routine marketing tasks that include email campaigns, segmented follow-ups, social media scheduling, lead scoring, analytics reporting, chatbot messaging, and workflow management. It often works alongside e-commerce CRMs to trigger actions based on user behavior. According to Markinblog, about 75 percent of companies already use marketing automation platforms, and 76 percent of those report seeing positive returns on investment within one year. This shows automation isn't just convenient; it also supports growth. Firms that adopt this approach free up teams to focus on planning while the system handles repetitive tasks.
Top 5 marketing automation tools
Pippit
Pippit is an AI-powered content and social media marketing automation platform that turns product links or media into marketing assets like videos, posters, and brand visuals through one-click generation and lets you schedule your content to your Facebook, TikTok, and Instagram accounts. Not only that, but you can also track campaign performance through its social media analytics dashboard. It's ideal for small and mid‑size e‑commerce brands (especially DTC) selling fashion, home goods, beauty, or fitness products that don't have a large team and want engaging marketing assets and to automate their digital marketing campaigns.
3 easy steps to use Pippit for marketing automation
You can use Pippit for marketing automation in these three easy and simple steps:
- STEP 1
- Connect your socials
From Pippit's dashboard, go to "Settings," select "Account Authorization," and click "Detail" to link Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook accounts. Pippit will guide you through account authorization and confirmation prompts. This allows it to automatically pull key metrics into the dashboard.
- STEP 2
- Share content on socials
Use the "Video Generator" or "Image Studio" to convert product links, photos, or text into branded videos or posters. You can batch‑process content and use preset templates and AI avatars for your videos or images. Then, in the "Publisher" tab, click "Schedule, upload your media file, add captions and hashtags, schedule date/time, and hit "Schedule."
- STEP 3
- Track analytics
Finally, go to the "Analytics" section. Under "Performance," you can check follower growth, reach, and engagement. Then, use the "Content" tab to review individual post metrics that include likes, comments, and shares. You can filter by specific accounts or date range, too.
Key features of Pippit for marketing automation
- 1
- Auto publisher for social media marketing:
Pippit includes a built-in content scheduler that handles your Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook posts. You can upload media, add captions, choose the exact date and time, and then let the platform post it for you. This allows you to plan your content in advance without needing to be online when it's time to publish.
- 2
- Advanced analytics dashboard
Once your content is live, Pippit starts collecting performance data automatically. Inside the dashboard, you can find a clear overview of follower growth, reach, and overall engagement. If you want to go deeper, the content section shows numbers for each post, including likes, comments, and shares. This way, you figure out what type of content your audience responds to most and can adjust your content style or posting time based on real behavior.
- 3
- Video generator and editor
If you have a product link, some photos, or a short message, Pippit AI video maker can turn that into a complete Instagram video in one go. It handles scriptwriting, voiceovers, subtitles, and even adds a presenter avatar if you want one. Once the video is generated, you can open it in the editing space to fine-tune the scenes. You can crop, trim, arrange clips in a different order, or blend scenes for better flow. It also includes audio tools, speed settings, color correction, background remover, and reframe, so you can adjust the style and clarity of your content.
- 4
- Image editor
Pippit's image editor includes cropping, color correction, text overlays, and background removal tools. You can resize JPGs based on format, transfer image style, restore old photos, enhance images up to 4k, and adjust the brightness, contrast, and color to match your brand. If you're handling multiple images at once, the batch editor lets you apply changes to several files together. This comes in handy when you're creating themed content or running a product launch with a consistent visual style.
- 5
- Pre-cleared templates
The Inspiration tab in Pippit comes with image and AI video templates related to different themes and industries. You can also sort them by aspect ratio and duration to find the one that suits your needs. Each preset is customizable and pre-licensed for commercial use.
- 6
- Sales poster generator
Pippit's AI poster maker lets you write a short message, then turns that into a ready-to-publish banner or ad. You can choose different styles and layouts, or convert an existing design into a final format that fits your feed or story. These posters work well for promotions, new arrivals, or seasonal campaigns.
Mailchimp
Mailchimp is a popular all-in-one platform for email marketing automation. It's often used by small businesses to run newsletters, build contact lists, and send behavior-based emails. The platform includes templates, segmentation tools, A/B testing, and performance reports, all within a user-friendly dashboard.
- Pre-built automation journeys: You can choose from ready-made workflows for abandoned carts, welcome emails, and more.
- Audience tags and segments: It allows precise targeting based on behavior, purchase history, or tags.
- Website builder and landing pages: Mailchimp offers tools to create standalone web pages without needing another platform.
- Price increases with contacts: As your email list grows, so does the monthly cost, even if your campaign needs stay the same.
- Limited customization in free plan: Many useful features, such as advanced automations or multivariate testing, are locked behind paid tiers.
Hubspot
Hubspot is a full-scale digital marketing automation platform for e-commerce businesses that want to manage email, SMS, and push campaigns from one platform. It's known for simple automation workflows, real-time segmentation, and wide integration support with popular online store platforms.
- Omni‑channel attribution: lets you track exactly which marketing actions drive revenue, making investment decisions data‑backed.
- Support and onboarding: Provides guided setup and live help, useful for teams without tech backgrounds.
- Flexible seat pricing: Offers free core access for small teams and paid upgrades as needs grow.
- Advanced features locked: A/B testing, smart workflows, and reporting require higher plans.
- Limited chatbot tools: Lacks AI-based replies, message targeting, and deep chat analytics.
ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign is another full-featured AI marketing automation tool that merges email marketing, CRM, sales automation, and advanced workflows in a unified dashboard. It's well-suited for businesses aiming to personalize customer journeys and automate multi-channel campaigns.
- High volume email capacity: Even lower-tier plans support sending large numbers of emails each month, which is ideal for growing contact lists.
- Predictive sending and AI-based personalization: This marketing automation tool learns from past behavior to send messages at the optimal time for each contact and tailor content based on preferences.
- Custom Objects support: You can define and track unique data types inside the platform, not just standard contact fields
- A/B testing limited to email campaigns: Though strong for email split testing, it offers limited options for testing full automation paths or sequences.
- Free trial too short: A 14-day trial often does not leave enough time to explore all features, especially for teams evaluating automation setups.
Omnisend
Omnisend is a marketing automation tool mainly for e‑commerce brands. You can design email and SMS campaigns, set up workflows for actions like cart abandonment or post-purchase follow‑ups, and view performance reports. The platform integrates tightly with stores on Shopify, WooCommerce, and BigCommerce.
- One-click e‑commerce integration into platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce brings real-time syncing of purchase data into segmentation and automation workflows.
- Pre-built ecommerce workflows: Includes ready-to-use automations like cart abandonment, welcome series, and product recommendations.
- Strong email & SMS blend: You can run both from one campaign builder without switching tools.
- Smart segmentation: Audience segments update automatically based on shopping behavior and campaign activity.
- Limited CRM features: Not suitable if you're looking for full pipeline tracking or lead scoring.
- Custom reporting lacks depth: Exporting advanced performance reports or customizing data views can be restrictive.
4 key steps to set up marketing automation that works
- 1
- Set clear goals
Before you start automating anything, decide what you want to achieve. That could be increasing repeat sales, recovering abandoned carts, or shortening your sales cycle. You can't measure progress if you're unsure what success looks like. So, nail down your target before moving to the next step.
- 2
- Know your target audience
Automation isn't useful if your message lands on the wrong people. You need to understand your audience's behavior, buying patterns, and preferences. This includes knowing which channels they respond to and what kind of messaging clicks with them.
- 3
- Pick the right tool
Once you know your goals and audience, choosing a platform becomes easier. You want something that fits your use cases, such as content generation, social media marketing, email workflows, SMS outreach, or multi-channel flows. Pippit is a strong choice for e-commerce content and social media management, while tools like ActiveCampaign lean more toward customer journeys and scoring.
- 4
- Test, track, and adjust
No setup runs perfectly on day one. That's why it's important to monitor your flows and analyze open rates, click-throughs, and conversions. Small changes, like switching a subject line or adjusting timing, can double your impact.
What are the benefits of online marketing automation
- Improves customer follow-up
Automation tools track each user's interaction and trigger emails, messages, or retargeting ads based on real-time actions. For example, if someone abandons a cart, the system can push a product-specific reminder within minutes. This follow-up increases response rates and keeps your brand relevant in every touchpoint.
- Increases conversions
You don't have to guess which type of content to create, when to send a promo, or which message gets clicks. Marketing automation technology uses data from previous campaigns to trigger responses when users show buying signals.
- Handles multiple campaigns at once
Instead of juggling tabs or spreadsheets, everything sits in one dashboard. You can create content, schedule it to social platforms, & track analytics or run SMS for cart recovery, email sequences for onboarding, and loyalty offers for repeat buyers.
- Boost customer retention
Marketing automation services don't stop after the first sale. It continues to engage through feedback surveys, birthday coupons, and product recommendations. According to Omnisend, automated emails generate nearly 37% of all email marketing orders, which proves that timely follow-up connects buyers to your brand.
- Improve budget allocation
You see exactly where responses come from, what message, which channel, and at what time. This data reduces guesswork. You can cut spending on underperforming ads and double down where response is strong. Over time, your cost per conversion drops while ROI improves.
Conclusion
In this article, we've explored the top 5 marketing automation tools, along with their pros and cons. Each brings its own strengths and limitations, depending on how and where you plan to use it. If you're looking for a tool for fast content creation and automation on social platforms, Pippit fits that role perfectly. It handles bulk posting, AI video generation, poster creation, smart editing, and more. You won't need multiple tools for visuals, video, or scheduling. Try Pippit now and get your content rolling in less time, with less effort.
FAQs
- 1
- What is an example of marketing automation?
An example of marketing automation is scheduling and managing content on multiple social media platforms. This includes setting up posts in advance, automatically publishing them at specific times, and tracking how they perform. You can also run recurring campaigns, adjust timing based on performance, and stay active without being online all day. Pippit goes beyond scheduling. It includes AI tools for making short videos, creating posters, editing visuals, and publishing them in bulk. Everything is managed in one dashboard, so your entire content workflow stays organized and consistent.
- 2
- What is the best course to take for marketing automation?
The best course for marketing automation depends on your goal, but a strong starting point is one that covers email marketing, lead scoring, customer journeys, CRM integration, and social media automation. Look for hands-on lessons with automation tools that show how to build automated workflows, track engagement, and optimize campaigns. For creators and sellers, Pippit brings these concepts into action without needing advanced training for e-commerce marketing. It has an auto publisher for scheduling social apps, an AI video generator with avatars, a sales poster maker, and a batch image editor that resizes visuals to match different platform needs. The built-in analytics show what's working, so you can quickly tweak your strategy over time.
- 3
- What is a marketing automation specialist?
A marketing automation specialist plans and creates systems that run marketing tasks on autopilot. They set up email sequences, schedule social media posts, manage lead nurturing campaigns, and track user behavior to improve results. Their role often includes working with CRMs, segmenting audiences, and analyzing data to fine-tune campaigns. They save teams time by replacing manual tasks with smart workflows. Pippit handles the social media side of that role with built-in automation tools. Its auto publisher schedules content across platforms, while the analytics feature shows which posts are driving the most views, clicks, and engagement. This way, you don't need a separate tool or specialist just to manage your content flow.
- 4
- What is sales and marketing automation?
Sales and marketing automation means using software to manage repetitive tasks like sending emails, updating customer records, posting on social media, tracking leads, and following up with prospects. This allows businesses to move faster without relying on manual input at every step. It's often used to guide potential customers from first contact to final purchase with minimal delays. Pippit supports this kind of workflow by giving you tools to handle content creation and publishing in one place. You can use the AI video generator to create product demos, generate sales posters in seconds, and schedule everything with the auto publisher.